ECO-WORK: Helen Goodman helps the Trees for Teesdale group plant saplings
ECO-WORK: Helen Goodman helps the Trees for Teesdale group plant saplings

TEESDALE’S MP has helped a group on its quest to plant the seed of conservation in Barnard Castle.

Helen Goodman joined Trees for Teesdale to plant five saplings, which have been donated to the public as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project.

This is a global network of forest conservation initiatives to mark the Queen’s long-standing service to the commonwealth. 

Special postal packs containing five UK-sourced native broadleaf trees were sent to 10,000 charities and individuals, including Ms Goodman. 

The pack contained a hazel, two silver birch, and two rowan saplings. 

At the planting ceremony, she said: “With the latest news on climate change, tree planting is more important than ever, so I was glad to plant these special trees in Barnard Castle. Although they’re very small at the moment, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow into the landscape for everyone to enjoy in the years to come.”

The trees have been planted on the Demesnes on a site chosen by volunteer group Trees for Teesdale.

The group’s chairman, Geoff King, said: “The planting went really well and it didn’t rain too much. We’ll be putting an enclosure around the saplings in the coming week and continue to look after them in the future.”

The planting took part during National Tree Week, a celebration marking the start of the winter tree planting season.